Many seniors are reluctant to begin the search for senior living because they don’t believe they absolutely need it right now. Maybe you’re thinking you can get dressed and prepare meals on your own, and you can still take care of your house by yourself. Or maybe you could use some help taking care of yourself, but you still want to keep your independence. What many don’t know, however, is that senior living is for all kinds of aging adults. Many communities offer what’s called a continuum of care, meaning they support residents over a long period of time, even as their needs change. Even if you don’t need help with every single one of your ADLs right now, senior living might still be an option for you.

Continuum of Care Explained

Continuum of care is a term used in the medical sphere to describe health care for patients over a long period of time. This care is adapted to the patient’s needs as they change.

In the realm of elder care specifically, the continuum refers to the steps taken to care for a senior’s health as they age. For example, you might be able to live on your own comfortably right now, but in a few years, you might want to move to an independent living community. And in a few years after that you might require some help with your ADLs and need a higher level of care.

Luckily for New York City residents, not only is there a diverse selection of communities to choose from, but many communities are flexible and have the resources to accommodate you today and as you age. You can experience the full continuum of care under one roof!

How can Senior Living Help Me?

A common misconception many have about senior living is that a senior care community means a nursing home. This is not true. A nursing home is for elders with specific, complicated medical needs who need around-the-clock care from a nurse. Nursing homes are higher-level care facilities, while there are other facilities that provide lower levels of care for seniors who are more independent. What’s more, there are plenty of communities that adopt a continuum-of-care approach, allowing residents to stay in the same community even as their needs change with time.

Independent Living

Independent living is the senior living model that provides the lowest level of care. It is for seniors who do not need help with their ADLs and are largely independent. The benefit is that seniors can downsize from their current home to a community where they can socialize and participate in recreational activities. Staff members also take care of their housework. Most independent living communities call themselves retirement homes. If you currently live on your own just fine, but want to socialize with others your age and have access to a wide range of amenities, an independent living model might be right for you.

Assisted Living: Aging in Place

If you do need help with your ADLs, assisted living is the way to go. The benefit of many assisted living communities is that they adopt an aging-in-place approach, meaning you can move in when you only need a low level of care, and stay there as your needs increase over time. Some assisted living offers care levels almost as high as skilled nursing. Other facilities are located near nursing homes for easy access. There are also plenty of communities that have memory care services on a separate floor. Whatever your needs are, you can find a flexible community to accommodate you now and in the future.

Why is Senior Living Better than Living on My Own?

Seniors value their independence, deterring many from looking into senior living options. Again, senior living isn’t only for people who need copious amounts of help from a nurse. Independent living communities and assisted living communities allow you to keep your independence, and have added benefits that your current home does not.

Housekeeping

Even if you can do the chores just fine on your own, maybe you’re getting tired of it. Senior living offers housekeeping services so you don’t have to worry about laundry, cleaning your room, or cooking. Instead, you can focus on taking advantage of all the other things senior living offers, like making new friends and exploring new hobbies.

Amenities

Each community has different amenities. Some have as many as a swimming pool, a gym, beauty and hair salons, a library, and more. There is usually no extra cost for using these amenities, potentially making it a more cost-savvy option than if you were to live at home and pay for these services yourself.

Socialization

If you live on your own, do you ever feel lonely or isolated from others? Even if you’re physically capable of “getting out there” and socializing, it can be difficult at this age to do so. Senior living communities make it easy to meet new people: residents eat meals together, attend social events, and participate in fitness classes together. These opportunities to socialize are invaluable to your mental and even physical health.

Safety

Something that all seniors can benefit from is the added safety that communities offer. Even if you can get around on your own, there’s still a risk of getting hurt. Communities are equipped with 24-hour emergency call buttons, so you never have to worry about being on your own in an emergency.